Some had questioned Ali Highsmith..

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; From NFL.com NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Ali Highsmith
COMPARES TO: DERRICK BROOKS-Tampa Bay...Smart, instinctive, smaller-than-ideal, but with a big heart are ways to describe these two. Highsmith is not the patient tackler Brooks is, but he has great ...

COMPARES TO: DERRICK BROOKS-Tampa Bay...Smart, instinctive, smaller-than-ideal, but with a big heart are ways to describe these two. Highsmith is not the patient tackler Brooks is, but he has great range to close on the ball and would be even better if he can grasp the concept of taking better angles in pursuit. He has the rare speed needed to force the outside running game back inside and does an outstanding job of reading and reacting to the ball in flight. The next Derrick Brooks? With his ability to defeat cut blocks and scrape to the outside, he's as close as you will find to the Bucs' perennial All-Pro.

I've stated that I like Highsmith as a 2nd rounder bc of his athletic ability and size. He's trying to prove me wrong at the combine, but he has raw skills... Was he just a piece of a very, very good overall defense??

Here is obviously the case of a guy who plays a lot faster in full gear than he does running track in shorts. I teams just watch film of him playing and don't focus so much on his combine results he will be gone in the second round. The LSU proday might have a big impact on his draft status too.

Draft analyst Charles Davis said on the NFL Network that he heard LSU LB Ali Highsmith was "a little dinged up" during Combine weekend.
Davis is a noted SEC loyalist, but it sounds right that Highsmith was at less than 100%. Projected to run his forty in the 4.5-4.6 range, Highsmith turned in a startlingy slow 5.0. He may need to meet expectations at the Tigers' Pro Day to avoid being this year's Earl Everett. Feb. 27 - 8:48 pm et